BDRFlorida Loc: Maine now Central Florida

I am a complete newbie to the camera world. I would like to find something that would be fairly easy to use. I am planning a take a trip to National Parks and maybe, if I can swing it, to Africa. I have been looking for a new camera and I am totally confused.

I am not looking for a professional setup but I am looking for very nice camera that I can use for everyday photos with the ability to have a great zoom or telephoto lens with Fast focusing. I would like to be able to take a series of photos at RC model plane shows and it would be nice to see the frames as being taken to stay on target. Should be quick to write to the card with minimum delays.

Please help your guidance would be greatly appreciated.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

What is your price range? Do you want everything to be full auto or do you intend to learn and use the semi auto and manual features that lead to better results? Whether we recommend a good quality and relatively inexpensive point & shoot or a more expensive dSLR with multiple lenses will depend on your goals and expectations.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Canon SX50HS, Sony DSC-RX10 II - at either end of the price scale

BDRFlorida Loc: Maine now Central Florida

Would like to keep it under or near $1000.
The more automatic the better. Changing lenses is fine.

HOT Texas Loc: From the Heart of Texas

Sony a6000 with E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS Power Zoom Lens.

JPL

For good quality as well as fulfilling your criteria you should look at Nikon 1J5 that seems to be exactly what you are looking for or the Canon Powershot G3X that has a fixed lens with very good zoom range but might also be what you are looking for.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

It's preorder right now, but the Panasonic FZ300 looks great.

http://shop.panasonic.com/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/lumix-point-and-shoot-cameras/DMC-FZ300K.html#start=1&cgid=cameras.

What I really like about it is that it is weather-sealed and has a constant f stop throughout the zoom range...4K is a nice added bonus for being able to do grab screen grabs from videos large enough to do 11 x 14 prints (8mpx).

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Fast tracking autofocusing on model airplanes in the air may well be beyond the capabilities of any bridge camera and most dslr cameras and lenses at many times what your budget is. All cameras and lenses have a price performance ratio. You might be better off looking on youtube or RC model airplane sites to find pics that you like, then find out what camera and lenses were used to shoot those pics. You might still be in a condition where you need a steep learning curve, to get those type of pics, but at least you will have an idea of what that equipment is and costs.
For general tourist shots any bridge camera with a 24mm to 720mm or higher range will work. You can even get a used or lower cost new Nikon dslr like a new D3300 or a used D7000 with a couple of kit lenses like the Nikkor 18-55 and the 55-300 for well under your budget. All dslrs have automatic modes. But those dslrs and lenses will limit you to an equivalent focal length of 27mm-450mm. And they won't give you the instant sharp tracking autofocus you spoke of.
My used Fuji Finepix HS-10 takes very nice pics from 24mm to 720mm equivalent. Only cost $86 on ebay last year. But it has trouble autofocusing in low light due to lack of contrast. Generally takes a couple of seconds to autofocus in good light and a couple of seconds to write a raw file. That's the low end of the price performance scale. As you do your research consider as well low light performance.
Bob

MarkD Loc: NYC

For general shooting on vacations a bridge camera like a Canon SX50, Nikon P610, or Panasonic FZ200 would be a good choice, but they are not good for shooting fast moving subjects like RC airplanes. For that a DSLR is best. I'm most familiar with Nikon so I'll stick with that, but Canon and Pentax would be just as good. A recent model Nikon like a D5300 or D5200 would be good choices. I've had no problem shooting birds in flight with a D5200 and D5500.

For a lens or two you should be able to get a package with the camera and an 18-55 VR and 55-300 VR for under $1000. You could instead go for a one lens solution. A Sigma 18-250 Macro OS HSM (only get the Macro version) is only $349 new at B&H and Adorama. It won't be quite as sharp at the long end as the 55-300 VR but many experienced photographers find them sharp enough for their uses.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

Take a look at Nikon's new P900. I just bought one to take on the road with me and I really do like it a lot. It zooms from 24mm to 2000mm. The only issue is that it does NOT have NEF (RAW) capabilities.

BDRFlorida Loc: Maine now Central Florida

Thank you to everyone that provided their idea.
The Nikon P900 seems to be the best fit for what I am looking for.
Now I just need to find one.

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

Like bobspez said. The Nikon D3300 with a 18-55mmVR and the 55-300mmVR lenses will do well for you.

You WON'T regret the move.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Nikon D750 kit including 24-120 lens at a great price from B&H.

karlw Loc: Enfield Connecticut

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Only exceeds the OP's budget ($1000) by $1700...maybe they can find a few more pennies under their couch cushions to make up the difference.